About Knockout Roses
Many beginning gardeners are afraid to try growing roses because they've heard how difficult roses can be. Knock Out roses are a variety of rose that have a reputation for minimal care with outstanding results. Because they can grow well in several USDA zones, they are one of the more popular roses on the market. When it comes time to decide on landscaping for your home or business, consider the Knock Out rose. Does this Spark an idea?
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Identification
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The Knock Out rose is a shrub rose that grows to around 4 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide. This rose variety features foliage that is deep green with a maroon undercoloring and maroon highlight on top of the leaf. The blooms are anywhere from 3 to 4 inches in diameter and bloom about every 6 weeks. Bloom clusters are generally 2 to 5 flowers, with up to 30 blossoms on each flowering branch. Knock Out roses are usually bright red, but some deep pink, light pink and white varieties are growing in popularity. The scent of the roses is usually described as spicy and of a light intensity.
Benefits
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The Knock Out rose is a very disease-resistant subspecies of rose, allowing gardeners without much experience in maintaining roses to realize growing success with this variety. Knock Out roses are also low maintenance and don't require the time-consuming process of "deadheading," or removing spent blooms to encourage the growth of new ones. This shrub rose is also extremely pest resistant, requiring less applications of pesticides. Finally, Knock Out roses can survive and thrive in a variety of conditions, from wintry zones to those with high heat.
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History
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Knock Out roses were developed by William Radler, a Wisconsin rose breeder, and won the All-American Rose award in 2000. The first year on the market, the Knock Out rose sold more than 250,000, setting a record for the fastest-selling new rose. As people began to share the remarkable success of the Knock Out rose and testimonies about the rose's attributes grew, the Knock Out rose was demanded by growers all over the country. Today, it is one of the most popular roses sold and continues to live up to its reputation as a lovely, carefree shrub rose.
Care and Maintenance
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Knock Out roses do best in either light shade or full sun in USDA zones 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. Plant the shrub rose in well-drained soil in the spring. After a year to get established, prune the Knock Out rose every spring just before any new growth begins, and feel free to prune it back during the summer to keep it the size and shape you desire. Fertilize with a basic rose fertilizer once in the spring and once in mid summer for best bloom results.
Warning
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While the Knock Out rose is extremely hearty and disease resistant, that doesn't mean a gardener can ignore this shrub rose. Resistant roses are not immune to typical rose diseases such as black spot disease, nor do they completely repel pests such as aphids and Japanese beetles. Stay on top of routine rose maintenance and the Knock Out rose will definitely not need as much attention or care as other varieties of roses.
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